Spring Break
The Daily OrangeQ&A with guitarist Jeff Czum of Cute Is What We Aim For
By Talie Tebbi and Daniel Bortz
Posted: 10/2/08, 3:18 AM EST Section: Feature
Jeff Czum, one of the guitarists from Cute is What We Aim For, played the Verizon Wireless College Tour Wednesday in the Goldstein Auditorium. Afterward, Czum spoke with the Daily Orange about the band's sound and performing for colleges.
On their new sound:
When we recorded our last CD, I was a senior in high school, so we really didn't know much about music in general. I just got out of a local band, and it was very hard for us to write. Plus we were scared because just got signed, so we wrote the first one to make everyone happy. Then we started touring, and the road opened up our mind and we started listening to other music bands, especially classic rock like The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen - music that tells a story, not just writing one-liners. So our sound changed with all the influences from the first album and being on the road with all these new experiences.
On the story told by the second album:
This album is about dealing with all the stress with the outside world once you are thrown into it after you are told what to do your entire life. We had one week to write the whole album when we got into the studio, so it is all of our stress from the past two years right there.
On changes in the band's lineup:
When we first started the band, we didn't know each other. Now it's different, especially on the road, because we are stuck in a van or bus and sometimes we clash. (Former band mates) Fred and Tom had different views on music, so it was divided, and it just wasn't good. For this album, we decided we are going to start fresh, and they started doing their own thing. Dave Melillo was added, and he brings so much and is nicest person we've ever met. Ever since the beginning, if we could have anyone else in the band, it would be him. He just wanted to work for a band and hang out, so we asked if he wanted to play.
On being on tour:
The days are pretty boring. Nothing goes on, so you just sit around and wait until you go on.
On their new sound:
When we recorded our last CD, I was a senior in high school, so we really didn't know much about music in general. I just got out of a local band, and it was very hard for us to write. Plus we were scared because just got signed, so we wrote the first one to make everyone happy. Then we started touring, and the road opened up our mind and we started listening to other music bands, especially classic rock like The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen - music that tells a story, not just writing one-liners. So our sound changed with all the influences from the first album and being on the road with all these new experiences.
On the story told by the second album:
This album is about dealing with all the stress with the outside world once you are thrown into it after you are told what to do your entire life. We had one week to write the whole album when we got into the studio, so it is all of our stress from the past two years right there.
On changes in the band's lineup:
When we first started the band, we didn't know each other. Now it's different, especially on the road, because we are stuck in a van or bus and sometimes we clash. (Former band mates) Fred and Tom had different views on music, so it was divided, and it just wasn't good. For this album, we decided we are going to start fresh, and they started doing their own thing. Dave Melillo was added, and he brings so much and is nicest person we've ever met. Ever since the beginning, if we could have anyone else in the band, it would be him. He just wanted to work for a band and hang out, so we asked if he wanted to play.
On being on tour:
The days are pretty boring. Nothing goes on, so you just sit around and wait until you go on.
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